Sometimes public involvement becomes the only source
of protection for archeological and other cultural resources. Take, for
instance, the case of New Mexico's Petroglyph National Monument.

Petroglyph NM was created in 1990 to preserve both urban greenspace and
an invaluable collection of Puebloan rock images. Today, the park faces
the threat of increased pollution and easier access for vandals and looters
resulting from two highways that are planned to be routed through it.

Alarmed at the prospect of heavy construction blasting
through a canyon covered with irreplaceable petroglyphs sacred to some
twenty tribes, park employees and local Native groups raised objections
to the plan. Citizen groups organized resistance to the project, with
some success.

Nevertheless, the issue is far from settled. And like Albuquerque, other
cities and towns face the same sorts of pressures: managing growth and
transportation needs that may be at odds with the protection of natural
and cultural resources.

Federal land management agencies remain committed to—and
challenged by—the need to preserve the nation's cultural resources.
Ultimately, however, it is up to all of us to preserve and protect our
shared past.

PUBLIC SPACE, SACRED PLACE

For some, Petroglyph NM is a world-class tourist destination; for others,
it is a neighborhood park. Some come to study its resources; for some
it is an obstacle to development. For still others, it is a sacred place
and a living monument to their history.

Like the Coso Rock Art District, Petroglyph National Monument sits on
a stunning volcanic
landscape, with a steep
escarpment covered by thousands of petroglyphs. Some images seem strangely
familiar, and not completely unlike those at Coso. Others are unique to
this place and convey a sense of its own history.

RECORDING THE PAST

Just as area residents have rallied to safeguard the integrity of Petroglyph
NM, so have they volunteered to help the park manage its spectacular cultural
resources. The first step in this effort was to find and record the petroglyphs.

Armed with cameras, global positioning systems, and drawing supplies,
a dozen or so members of the Volunteer Petroglyph Inventory Crew worked
for the last decade to locate, map, and record the individual images and
their condition. With an average age of 70, the volunteers brought a host
of experience, skills, and insight to the project, eventually recording
over 20,000 images. Their labor of love gives the Park Service invaluable
information to help protect and preserve the Monument's petroglyphs.

SPIRIT AND STONE

For Albuquerque's Native population, Petroglyph NM is a revered and
sacred place. Protection of the site is their paramount concern.

Puebloan spokespersons help frame the issue by pointing out that Petroglyph
is akin to a large and ancient cathedral. They ask simply that their religious
places be given the same consideration accorded those of other faiths.

Likewise, local Indians advise park personel on how to interpret and
treat the images respectfully. The Park Service, in turn, uses their insights
to help educate the broader public.

Places like Petroglyph National Monument and the Coso Rock Art District
are valuable not only because they help us understand particular chapters
in human history, but because they speak to broader themes that connect
us all, written here in spirit and stone.